Sunday, 18 November 2012

Movember moustache shortbread and prize giveaway

The biscuits are cute, but this is a slightly more serious
post than usual. If you normally skim
read (aw c’mon, there’s no shame admitting it....we all do it...don’t we???)
please could you slow down at the bit headed up “charity prize draw”? Thanks awfully!

November is the month you are most likely to see dapper
gentlemen sporting beautifully groomed moustaches. Why?
Movember, of course! If you
haven’t heard of Movember here is the explanation taken directly from the
official site:

During November each
year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of
men’s faces in the UK and around the world. The aim of which is to raise vital
funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and
testicular cancer.

Once registered at movember.com each Mo Bro must
begin the 1st of Movember with a clean shaven face. For the entire month each
Mo Bro must grow and groom a moustache. There is to be no joining of the mo to
the sideburns (that’s considered a beard), there’s to be no joining of the
handlebars to the chin (that’s considered a goatee) and each Mo Bro must
conduct himself like a true gentleman.

A Mo Sista is essentially a woman who loves a
Mo. An individual that is dedicated to supporting the Mo Bros in her life
through their moustache growing journey; whether it be a friend, colleague,
family member or partner. These inspirational women are committed to raising
awareness of men's health issues and much needed funds for men's health along
the way.

Mo Bros effectively become walking, talking
billboards for the 30 days of November and through their actions and words
raise awareness by prompting private and public conversation around the often
ignored issue of men’s health.

Mr
CC is currently sporting a fine Mexican-style moustache. We monitor its progress with wonder each day
as he has never sported facial hair beyond the few days ‘can’t be bothered to
shave’ stubble. I’m viewing it as an
experience similar to an advent calendar, but with less chocolate. We are both impressed by its luxuriant
fullness and that it is (mostly) uniform in colour. Such a ‘tache deserves sponsorship!

Now,
as a Mo Sista married to a Mo Bro (Mr CC!) I must do my bit to raise awareness
and – perhaps more importantly – funds.
This is where I throw myself at your mercy...and hopefully your
charity. This is a brilliant cause and
every pound raised helps the fight against cancer.

Charity prize draw

Please,
please, please, might you consider sponsoring Mr CC’s ‘tache growing
exploits? His Mo page can be found here and you can donate by clicking the ‘donate
to me’ box displayed under his profile picture.
You can donate using credit cards or paypal and - I think - you can
donate from anywhere in the world. The
money goes directly to the charity and – if you are in the UK and a taxpayer –
you can also click the gift aid box thus increasing your donation at no extra
cost to you!

To
further sweeten the pill, I have put together a little prize bundle worth over
£40. The prize includes moustache themed
goodies of biscuit cutters and stamps, sandwich cutters (can also be used for
pastry or biscuits), picks for canapés or cupcake decorations, candies and –
because the other big C-word is approaching (that’s Christmas) - a Christmas
themed cupcake case set and book!

On 1st
December I shall enter the names of all donors into the prize draw and pick one
at random. That person will win the
prize bundle of goodies. Please leave
your name in the donation details (blog name is fine if you don’t wish to leave
your real name – just split it into a first and surname) and also, in the
message box, state that you have come to the Mo page via The Caked
Crusader. This is so I know to include
you in the draw. Also, I know many blog
competitions/draws often limit entries to a particular country but I’m not
doing that here – the cause is too important to fret about postage costs. If you donate and win I will post the prize
bundle to you WHEREVER you are in
the world...if your country has a postal system, I’ll get it to you!

The
shortbread men are made from my quick and easy shortbread recipe. In honour of Mr CC’s fine ‘tache growing exploits, each little man was given a
chocolate moustache (ebay is brilliant for finding quirky and cheap chocolate
moulds).

The
chocolate shortbread ‘taches were made from an adapted version of the recipe I
used for the men, and that adapted version is set out below. The moustache biscuits give an idea of what
you can win by donating as they were made using the moustache cutter and stamp
set included in the prize bundle – obviously, not the set I’m giving away...I
bought my own set!

Thank
you for whatever donation you can make – it’s such a good cause. Hope you’re lucky in the prize draw!

Stir in the flour, cocoa and chocolate chips (if
using), and bring together to a dough.

Roll out the dough between two sheets of clingfilm.
You’re aiming for a thickness of approximately 1cm.

Cut into shapes using the cutter of your choice and
place on the baking tray; allow a little room for expansion but no need to
leave more than about 1cm. NB. The dough re-rolls easily so don’t waste any of
it!

Sprinkle with additional caster sugar.

Bake for approximately 15 minutes or until the
biscuits are firm-ish to the touch. Mine took nearer 18 minutes.

Excellent cause - quite a number of my colleagues are doing this too. I do like those Mo cutters, perhaps I'll have to get some and make some biscuits for the end of Movember. Great post, hope you raise loads of cash!

great post - I am a Mo sista too - although I'm not sure about 'loving' the mo (although I do of course love my Mr Movember) He's been away since Tuesday, due back this evening, him and furry (and patchy grey) slug... Great cause, but really, roll on 1 December is what I say, and the great shave off. Cute biscuits too, but in light of the above, you'll appreciate that i won't be engaging any any additional 'mo' creation, shortbread or otherwise...

Had you thought - will you please consider - writing a book of your recipes which I am sure many, including me, find inspirational( and well, basically, food porn)? In any event I have baked several of your cakes and I am sure you could even consider making a donation of the royalties which I am sure will come your way, to a charity of your choice.Keep up the good work and thanks.

Hi there, I just visited and left a donation but forgot to post a comment that I'd arrived via your blog! I'm leaving this message here in the hope that you'll still enter me to the competition. :) Good luck on raising funds for such a good cause.ThanksJoanna

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